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On 15 October, during the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting (GAERC) in Luxembourg, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas and the EU Heads of diplomacy discussed preparations for the upcoming October 26 EU-Russia summit, negotiations of the EU Reform Treaty and important issues of the EU External Relations policy. While discussing the EU-Russia summit preparations, Minister P.Vaitiekūnas emphasized that unified EU position regarding Russia was especially important. “The solidarity of the EU, which was demonstrated during the last EU-Russia summit in May in Samara, should be maintained,” stressed the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas warned his colleagues about the possible gas price rise in Lithuania and, probably, in Latvia and Estonia. Minister says that in such a case it will be nothing else, but the monopolistic abuse by Gazprom.

“While discussing early notification mechanisms with Russia, regarding the provision of energy supply and partner reliability, I would like to ask the EU Portuguese Presidency and the European Commission to consider our concern,” said P.Vaitiekūnas.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also spoke about the impairment of business environment in the Kaliningrad region. The Minister once again informed the participants about the missing Lithuanian businessman and asked to raise this issue during the highest level dialogue with Russia.

The Head of Lithuanian diplomacy also drew the attention of participants to the common problems of the EU-Russian neighbours – especially to the so-called ‘frozen conflicts” in Georgia. The EU, according to the Minister, should state very clearly to Russia that after the solution of the Kosovo question, no unsanctioned or provocative actions from the side of Russia will be held acceptable.

While discussing the process of negotiations of the EU Reform Treaty, the Minister expressed his confidence that the agreement regarding the text of the future EU Reform Treaty would be reached by the end of 2007 and that it would not be very different from the current content of the Treaty, which Lithuania approved of.